NetFlow-lite (Figure 1) provides traffic-monitoring capability for Layer 2 and Layer 3 traffic on data center top-of-rack switches 4948E and 4948E-F. The ability to monitor traffic allows these switches to gain visibility into server-to-server traffic as well as server-to-client traffic or vice versa. With this feature, customers will be able to determine the top talkers in the network (top applications, servers, hosts), get an accurate estimate of network-link utilization at the rack level and make informed decisions for capacity planning. NetFlow-lite complies with standards-based NetFlow v9 and IPFIX format, and it can work with existing NetFlow Collectors (Phase 1 requires converter).

Figure 1. NetFlow-lite

WCCPv2 for Cisco Catalyst Supervisor Engine 6-E and 6L-E and Catalyst 4900M and 4948E Series Switches

Web Content Communication Protocol (WCCP) Version 2 Layer 2 redirection enables a Cisco Catalyst 4500 Series Switch to transparently redirect content requests to directly connected content engines using a Layer 2/MAC address rewrite. The WCCPv2 Layer 2 redirection is accelerated in the switching hardware and thus is more efficient than Layer 3 redirection using Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE). The content engines in a cache cluster transparently store frequently accessed content and then fulfill successive requests for the same content, eliminating repetitive transmissions of identical content from the original content servers. This feature supports the transparent redirection of HTTP and non-HTTP traffic with well-known ports or dynamic services, such as web caching, HTTPS caching, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) caching, proxy caching, media caching, and streaming services. WCCPv2 Layer 2 redirection is typically deployed for transparent caching at the network edge, such as regional or branch sites. Access control list (ACL) redirection list and both incoming and outgoing traffic redirection on an interface is supported; however, WCCPv2 Layer 2 redirection cannot be enabled on the same input interface with Policy-Based Routing (PBR) or Virtual Route Forwarding (VRF)-lite. ACL-based classification for Layer 2 redirection is not supported.

Critical Auth for Voice and Data and Multi-auth and VLAN Assignment

Critical Auth for Voice and Data (Inaccessible Authentication Bypass) feature authorizes and allows access for voice and data clients when RADIUS servers become unavailable. Multi-auth and VLAN assignment allows the RADIUS server to assign VLANs to ports in multi-authentication mode.

The Propagation of Location Information over CDP feature helps to ensure that location information is transmitted from wired switches over CDP to the attached end devices. CDP allows only one wired switch to report the location information by identifying and indicating the location of neighbor ports not to report the duplicate location information of the same device.

Cisco IOS Software Release 15 provides a more consistent user experience resulting from the evolution of Cisco's software development model. This new model accelerates the sharing of features and applications, improves IOS software quality and enables Borderless Network Services. There are no special memory requirements to upgrade from Release 12.2 to Release 15 on Cisco Catalysts 4500 & 4900 products and the same software update policy is applicable for Cisco Catalysts 4500E & 4500 products as below:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps4324/product_bulletin_c25-534149.html.